Dean Egnater
04-19-2021, 10:10 PM
As has happened with many other people my planer started popping the breaker with even the smallest possible cuts. Don't get me wrong...I've had the planer since 1977 and love it...been a work horse
Got some interesting data so I thought I would share.
Bought the breaker for $12 off amazon...said it was oem. Opened up the case and swopped it out....noticed that the original breaker was 18 amps...new breaker is 20 amps. Which is really interesting given that the machine says 15 amps on the label.
Idles at 11.5 amps
Ran a piece of wood with 1/16th inch cut....19.5 amps (ouch!)
Flipped knives around to new edge.....18.5 amps (better, but still not good)
I have a 14 gauge 25' extension cord I've been using as a hand tool/shop cable forever...so I plugged the planer straight into the wall
Still idles at 11.5.....1/16th inch cut = 15.2 amps
Cable is in the trash can and problem solved....surprised the remaining copper in the cable hadn't melted. Interesting that the planer is still over spec when cutting...but then again I have a fairly inexpensive ammeter so it may just be error.
Got some interesting data so I thought I would share.
Bought the breaker for $12 off amazon...said it was oem. Opened up the case and swopped it out....noticed that the original breaker was 18 amps...new breaker is 20 amps. Which is really interesting given that the machine says 15 amps on the label.
Idles at 11.5 amps
Ran a piece of wood with 1/16th inch cut....19.5 amps (ouch!)
Flipped knives around to new edge.....18.5 amps (better, but still not good)
I have a 14 gauge 25' extension cord I've been using as a hand tool/shop cable forever...so I plugged the planer straight into the wall
Still idles at 11.5.....1/16th inch cut = 15.2 amps
Cable is in the trash can and problem solved....surprised the remaining copper in the cable hadn't melted. Interesting that the planer is still over spec when cutting...but then again I have a fairly inexpensive ammeter so it may just be error.